Antenatal predictors and body composition of large-for-gestational-age newborns: perinatal health outcomes

Objective:to compare body composition of large-for-gestational-age (lga) with appropriate-for-gestational-age (aga) newborns and to identify antenatal predictors of lga.study design:this cross-sectional study included 536 term, singleton infants. anthropometric measurements were performed within 48 h of birth and included determination of body fat percentage (%bf) by air displacement plethysmography. associations were investigated using logistic regression.result:lga infants had greater %bf (p<0.001) compared with aga infants. significant predictors of lga infants included parity (odds ratio (or)=1.98, (95% confidence interval (ci) 1.00, 4.02)), paternal height (or=1.08, (95% ci 1.03, 1.14)), maternal pregravid weight (65 to 74.9 kg: or=2.77, (95% ci 1.14, 7.06)) and gestational weight gain (or=1.09, 95% ci (1.03, 1.16)). gestational diabetes mellitus was not associated with lga infants (p=0.598).conclusion:paternal height, parity, maternal pregravid weight and gestational weight gain were strongly associated with lga infants. these results may allow early prediction and potential modification, thereby optimising clinical outcomes.